Team Astana's shameful legacy

[mewmewmew13]

Enjoy golf, or rollerblading, or whatever.

I might be an unbeliever, but I'm still nostalgic about believing.

Good way to put it..

 

[yespatterns]

Good way to put it..

More like it's the only way of putting it. It's not the best feeling watching a performance during a race and enjoying it, while suspecting you'll regret that same enjoyment later because it's potentially (probably) a farce. Oh cycling, you crazy.

 

[86TDFWinner]

More like it's the only way of putting it. It's not the best feeling watching a performance during a race and enjoying it, while suspecting you'll regret that same enjoyment later because it's potentially (probably) a farce. Oh cycling, you crazy.

Sadly, now that UCI has shown just how much they give a s%$# about "clean riders" with todays announcement on Astana, I now believe EVERY RIDER is doping, and there aren't any "clean riders" anymore. Since UCI doesn't give a s^%$ neither should we.

 

[86TDFWinner]

Why don't you wait to see what he does before you jump to any conclusions?

Remember that anything he does needs to be consulted with lawyers. He needs to review the whole document.

I/We've seen all we've needed to, wouldn't he have to have done that BEFORE granting them a license?

I'll stand by what I said, Cookson is a POG, and no better than McFraud.

He should've banned the ENTIRE TEAM IMMEDIATELY, but he didn't do that. Therefore, he's shown everyone just how much lip service he's full of.

Some "cleaner up of doping" he turned out to be.

 

[Archibald]

so,

Astana - doping issues galore, but plenty of moula - IN
Europcar - no doping issues, but short on dosh - OUT

I think you might be onto something with this comment...

or it's all just about the money

 

[The Hitch]

Wasn't it just last week that that moron Hood wrote his "article" about how all the evidence points to Nibali being clean

 

[ralphbert]

More like it's the only way of putting it. It's not the best feeling watching a performance during a race and enjoying it, while suspecting you'll regret that same enjoyment later because it's potentially (probably) a farce. Oh cycling, you crazy.

Or just accept the fact that the chemical aspect of the sport is as much part of the competitive arena as the genetics, training, tactics is. If you can work the system to get peak performance without testing positive then you win. The opposing force of testers and dopers is a fascinating part of the theatre. Just like flirting with offside in soccer, its not a problem unless you are caught.

The biggest problem with sport is most people don't recognise this fact and have some romantic view of the purity of human sporting endevor. Does not exist imo.

 

[Tonton]

Vino seems quite popular in the peloton and amongst many of the journos.

Who doesn't like his style? As a rider, I want to be Vino, earn my podium by sprinting in Paris, win the Olympics and say goodbye. Popular, flashy, Pantani.

But as a human being, he's one of the most despised ones out there. With Riis, who's smart enough to stay under the radar. Many are happy with his soon-to-be-demise. You can't say it's untrue.

 

[DirtyWorks]

He should've banned the ENTIRE TEAM IMMEDIATELY, but he didn't do that. Therefore, he's shown everyone just how much lip service he's full of.

Some "cleaner up of doping" he turned out to be.

Well, would the rules support that action? The UCI tried to ban Katousha??? Last year and that failed.

It might be helpful to remember the timing of the positives is incredible. We don't know the UCI's game here. Somehow, I doubt it's as simple as dusting off some of the many positives they have.

 

[The Hitch]

Who doesn't like his style? As a rider, I want to be Vino, earn my podium by sprinting in Paris, win the Olympics and say goodbye. Popular, flashy, Pantani.

But as a human being, he's one of the most despised ones out there. With Riis, who's smart enough to stay under the radar. Many are happy with his soon-to-be-demise. You can't say it's untrue.

Within the peloton? I saw plenty of the biggest names in the sport from both past and present at Vinos retirment shindig.

 

[TourOfSardinia]

Love him or Loathe him ...

Vino so often ahead of the game.

 

[frenchfry]

Who doesn't like his style? As a rider, I want to be Vino, earn my podium by sprinting in Paris, win the Olympics and say goodbye. Popular, flashy, Pantani.

But as a human being, he's one of the most despised ones out there. With Riis, who's smart enough to stay under the radar. Many are happy with his soon-to-be-demise. You can't say it's untrue.

It's much easier to be a constantly attacking hero when you are totally pumped up on a cocktail of PEDs. Personally I have never liked Vino, his doping has always been far too obvious.

 

[samhocking]

It's a twisted sport and Astana just twisted it that little bit more. Ethically, the moral decision would be for UCI to not give them a 2015 licence, but logically and legally it wouldn't stand up to the appeal Astana would immediately launch.

The saddest thing is not the licence commission's decision or even the doping, it's the celebratory air of glory from Astana as if escaping sporting ethics and the moral high ground is something to be proud of. Not even a breath about wanting to clean up - sickening!

 

[Ferminal]

edit: too slow

 

[Ferminal]

so,

Europcar - no doping issues

yeh, nah...

 

[the sceptic]

Wasn't it just last week that that moron Hood wrote his "article" about how all the evidence points to Nibali being clean

Still clean by skyfan logic.

No evidence connects him to Ferrari and never tested positive.

And besides, even if he was linked to Ferrari it wouldn't mean doping. It could have been a mistake.

 

[Benotti69]

It's much easier to be a constantly attacking hero when you are totally pumped up on a cocktail of PEDs. Personally I have never liked Vino, his doping has always been far too obvious.

This. Vino always looked doped.

 

[the sceptic]

“The problems in this team are also in many others. I don’t think our team is the worst because in other teams there are worse people than there are here, I won’t name names,” Nibali said.

almost broke omerta there..

 

[Irondan]

This is a joke, I am done with cycling (as a fan of pro cycling) I just don't care anymore...

seriously,

have fun...

This is the straw that broke the camels back? Astana would have got it right back from the CAS if they lost it.

You'll be back...

 

[bewildered]

what exactly are the grounds for refusing a licence? Where are the rules? Seems more like an entitlement than a licence

 

[Puckfiend]

SS/DD

<sigh>

 

[DirtyWorks]

what exactly are the grounds for refusing a licence? Where are the rules? Seems more like an entitlement than a licence

There are probably some rules the UCI has published, but there is a whole other secret WT process.

Then, there's the artful interpretation of rules by the UCI to fit their objectives, or money...

 

[trifun]

All possibilities regarding Astana's destiny are still open, imo.
It wouldn't be the first time a team gets denied during a season or gets a full pass despite open cases.
I'm not sure whether the past decisions contributed to the better racing at the time or not.

 

[DirtyWorks]

almost broke omerta there..

Interesting to see his response to the controversy is to threaten the UCI with disclosure. He has very good media composure. The sport must be a complete joke at that level.

 

[roundabout]

Who doesn't like his style? As a rider, I want to be Vino, earn my podium by sprinting in Paris, win the Olympics and say goodbye. Popular, flashy, Pantani.

But as a human being, he's one of the most despised ones out there. With Riis, who's smart enough to stay under the radar. Many are happy with his soon-to-be-demise. You can't say it's untrue.

The guy is loaded, has connections and buys races.

Nothing to do with abstract concepts like style